The initial lineup of performers for MerleFest 2013 has been announced. The four-day event will again take place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina April 25-28 and feature performances from the Charlie Daniels Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Matraca Berg, Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent, and many more. This year’s festival will honor the late Doc Watson, who died May 29.

“For the past 25 years he has been the artistic and spiritual center of this festival, so this year, we will come together as a family to pay special tribute to the man and the musician who meant so much to us all,” Ted Hagaman, director of the festival, said.

MerleFest is known for its unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented music from the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, Americana, blues, country, Celtic, Cajun, cowboy, zydeco, rock and more. The festival was original started in memory of Doc Watson’s late son, Eddy Merle.

“From the beginning, Doc and his wife RosaLee wanted this festival to honor the memory of their beloved son,” Hagaman said. “In the many conversations I’ve had with Doc through the years, he made clear that it was his desire to keep MerleFest as a quality event, with a focus both on family and providing a diverse collection of music. Going forward, it will be our honor to carry on that tradition.”

MerleFest is considered one of the premier music festivals in the country. The annual event has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs for Wilkes Community College. A full, up to date lineup is available at www.merlefest.org.

Tickets for MerleFest will go on sale Tuesday, November 12 at 2p|1c at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An estimated 90 acts will perform on 14 stages during the event. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 10, 2013.